A/N: Happy New Year lovely people of this app! Hope 2024 is kind to us all!
With that said. I support teams which choke. I have been pissed off at them since the mega choke in the first test, I won't be forgetting 76 and 46 for a long time. Only Rahul's 100 at Centurion in the first innings saved face but Virat and Shreyas building that partnership is what took us to a safe position as well. We don't talk of the second innings tho I'm tired of those cute 70s and 40s now.
Khair good win to level the series and we've broken the CapeTown streak as well.
Virat stared in horror as Rabada took a running catch and they got all out for 131, losing the match by an innings, he trudged up the stairs and he patted Jassi's head apologetically for running him out and barely acknowledged Ro, who patted his back comfortingly, he didn't know if he could look Rah in the eyes after this atrocious performance.
Rah hugged Virat from behind,
"I understand it's okay, this isn't on you."
He'd kept quiet and he sat alone on the ride back to the hotel too. The bus ride was uncomfortable to say the least, the juniors feeling guilty at having to look at the tired faces of Rohirat.
Ro walked into Virat's room and just plopped down onto the bed,
"How did you do it?"
"Hmm?"
"Maintain your composure when the game was slipping away?"
Virat threw his head back and laughed,
"I called out the broadcasters the last time we toured here! I got into an argument with Elgar. I've lost my composure a lot of times Ro. But that's not what's bothering you is it?"
Ro's eyes watered, clearing his throat and breathing deeply he spoke after a beat,
"I can't forget that night. I don't know how to move on Vi."
Vi pulled Ro into his arms and just comfortingly rubbed his back,
"But we have to. Ro we can't let 1 night define our entire career now. I know I should be the last person saying this with all the tournaments I've lost, but that's how it works."
"I thought winning the series here would be my redemption"
"Nothing will ever redeem losing a world cup Rohit. We just need to move on from it. If we keep going like this, unable to move on, it will affect the team. You need to pull it together at least on field for them."
"I know. I know. Well played today by the way, sorry it ended the way it did."
"I shouldn't have risked it either. "
Ro hadn't realized how sleepy he was himself and got ready to sleep when the door opened and Rah sulked in and laid down in between both of them, letting out a sigh, he looked at both his big brothers on either side and quietly whispered,
"We screwed up. It happens. It's on the entire team. Now go to sleep."
The next 2 days, Rah refused to let either of them out of his sight, he had become Virat's shadow always keeping a keen eye on him, surprisingly, Jassi had become Ro's shadow as well. Having had enough of this, they decided to interrogate both of them on the new year's eve.
"Okay enough enough. What's going on with the both of you? Rahuliyaa hasn't so much as let me go out on a jog alone and Jassi you've been following Ro like he's your helium balloon."
"Did you have to call me a balloon?"
"He's literally holding onto the back of your shirt Ro!"
"Oh. Jassi kiddo...what's going on?"
